Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner

Check out Country Living's expert response to a reader question about hosting Thanksgiving. For more tips and recipes, check out our comprehensive Thanksgiving Handbook.

Most Popular

Aug 21, 2008

Spike Mafford/Getty Images

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

"I am hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my house for the first time ever. I would really like to make it memorable, and I need help. There are about 15 people expected, and I have an eight-person dining room set, an extremely small kitchen, and, because of its size, a somewhat uncomfortable living room. I would also like to decorate my table nicely but can't think of anything beyond a centerpiece, candles, lots of food, etc. I want it to feel relaxing for when we sit down to have dinner, and I hate the idea of forgetting something. Please help me!"
—Dora Bermudez

Most Popular

Dear Dora,

The most important thing you can do for your guests is to make them feel comfortable. If space is an issue, clear some additional room by putting some of your furniture and accessories into the garage or another room. Clear off occasional tables so that your guests have a convenient place to put down food and drinks. Having enough seating for everyone is essential, even if it means renting or borrowing extras. Lighting should be bright enough so that guests can see what they're eating.

As far as cooking goes, preparation is crucial. Thanksgiving is a great time to share the burden and assign specific dishes to your guests. When someone asks, "What can I bring?" there's nothing wrong with farming it out. Being specific — as in, "How about a chocolate cake?" — will help you keep details under control and in balance so that you don't end up with five pumpkin pies. Also, request dishes that won't require a lot of preparation once they arrive at your place.

Make the table special with autumnal fruits and vegetables. You could fill pedestal bowls or urns with fruits or create an arrangement down the length of your table. For example, you could nest votives in with your fruits or squashes. A bunch of bittersweet or branches has a nice feel. You can even hang feathers from a chandelier using monofilament or wire. If you want to go the distance and do place cards, try tying small tags onto pear stems with skinny satin ribbon or raffia (raffitribbons.com) or write names on preserved leaves with gold permanent markers.

If you need more inspiration, head to a bookstore or amazon.com and look for Celebrating Home: Decorating for the Holidays and Seasons. This book from Seasons of Cannon Falls has many good decorating and entertaining ideas that you can apply to Thanksgiving and beyond.